FESTIVAL OF INDIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE IN ALMATY

        From January 27 to January 31, 2019, the Days of India Festival of Indian Literature and Culture was held for the first time in Almaty, this Festival was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Republic of India and the 150th anniversary of the birth of the spiritual leader of the Indian people, Mahatma Gandhi.

        The festival was organized jointly by the Embassy of the Republic of India in Kazakhstan, the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Ritz Carlton Hotel. From the side of Al-Farabi KazNU co-organizer of the event was the Department of the Middle East and South Asia. The main events of the festival from January 28 to January 31, 2019 were held in the Mahatma Gandhi Center at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

On January 28, 2019, from 15.00 to 16.30, the Festival of Indian Culture and Literature, a Hindi and Bollywood poetry contest, was held at the Mahatma Gandhi Center. The students of the Indian department of the Faculty of Oriental Studies read poems in Hindi and sang Bollywood songs.

January 29, 2019 from 15.00 to 16.30 in the Center of Mahatma Gandhi, the Festival of Indian Culture and Literature was held - Design competition for painting with henna / mehendi. Students of the Indian department of the Faculty of Oriental Studies were writing with henna / mehendi.

Within the framework of this Festival, on January 30, 2019 - the day of memory of Mahatma Gandhi - was dedicated to his sayings. The students of the Indian Department of the Faculty of Oriental Studies quoted the words of the great Mahatma, talking about the response they found in their souls. The rector of KazNU named after al-Farabi G.Mutanov attended this day.

        A philosophy based on Hindu religion was simple and understandable for Indians, it touched hearts. “The world should begin to change from itself,” said Mahatma Gandhi. Quotes from his speeches inspired listeners, instilled in them faith in a new India:

«If you want the world to change, then become this change yourself»,

«Non-violence is not a matter of cowardice, it is always heroism»,

«If you run into an opponent, defeat him with love»,

«If you want a change in the future, become this change in the present».

Within the framework of this event, there was also a presentation of the book “Quotes of Gandhi”, which was prepared by teachers of the faculty of journalism of the Kazakh National University. Mahatma Gandhi's aphorisms are represented in this book in 3 languages: Kazakh, Russian and English.

On a coffee break, the rector of Al-Farabi KazNU G.Mutanov and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed plans for further cooperation in the field of science and education. Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU G.Mutanov expressed interest to launch a supercomputer at the university, invite Indian students to study at the medical faculty of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and develop cooperation in the field of IT technologies.

January 31, 2019 from 15.00 to 16.30 in the Center of Mahatma Gandhi was held the Festival of Indian Culture and Literature - Competition of Indian dresses and celebrations Raksha Bandhan. The event ended with a group dance of all participants.

The festival was attended by the rector of Al-Farabi KazNU G.M. Mutanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan Prabhat Kumar, Director of the Indian Cultural Center. Swami Vivekananda Sanjay Garg, InCham President Tara Chand Nehra, Director of the Center for Indian Classical Dance, teachers and students of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.